I'll be flying CX in first class for the first time in a couple of months, with several hours' stay in HKG between connections.

The facilities they make available to first class passengers sound amazing as they're described on the Cathay website. How much do they charge at the bars, restaurants or for the services at the day spa, or are these actually free? Maybe I'm too used to the 'service' available in the U.S. but it doesn't seem possible that there would be no cost.

There is no charge for food or beverage. I believe the only extras are the new "spa".

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speedbird001

ABSOLUTELY no cost to you for the restaurant, which is great or the soothing showers that CX provides. The Wing is truly an amazing experience.

Flying from Manchester (UK) to Australia involves a number of hours waiting in HK. As a first class passenger I have always been given vouchers for a complimentary city tour during the wait! Still had time to come back to the airport and enjoy the Wing.

Dining at the Restaurant at the First Class Wing is like dining in a fine restaurant with waiter service, white tablecloths, free wine, buffet table, the works. After that, there's service for your tea to relax and while the time away. You can have it at the main lounge or in the library. Oh yeah, there's also a 'Noodle Bar' in the Business Class lounge which you can order whatever noodle they have. Note that you can also order the noodles when you are in the First Class lounge restaurant. Just ask your waiter. And... there's no tipping required either.

You can have a shower, or relax in one of the cabanas with free minibar, free fruits, free everything.

There is a SPA available for massages and facials but this is the only paid service you will find. There is also a 'Smoking Bar' if you need to.

Although from HKG, never rich enough to be in first class.

I know OW 2nd-top tier allow the use of "airport-lounge" and "business-class" lounge. But "The Wing" is "first-class" only, right? So any CX lounge I can use?

Also, if I am AA plat (OW 2nd-top tier) and travelling a ticket by AA (OW), but the segment HKG-XXX is on NW (non-OW), can I still use CX's lounge?

Thanks!

"The wing" have so many good comments, just my cheap cheap economy ticket not fitting there

HK-UMICH, the entire Cathay Pacific First and Business Lounge is called "THE WING". But there are seperate First and Business Class sections. The Business Class section is one of the best around too. There is a huge 'cafeteria-like' restaurant. Be sure to try the Noodle-Bar and order whatever they have special that day - as many as you like! Free drinks, free food, everything. Showers.

You can use the Lounge only when flying on a oneworld carrier. ie BA flight but if you;re Sapphire with AA, you can use the CX lounge too, but not NW.

Thanks!

So even that NW segment is ticketed by AA still no hope ?

I think I need to "demand" my agent to connect me via CX or I will take away the business...

"The Wing", So Far , So Close.

AA sells one-year/six-month valid tickets to N. America ex. some Asian cities including HKG, right now all via either NRT or KIX. Intra-Asia flights to and from NRT/KIX can be arranged on CX (if you prefer) as well as any other airliens that fly the route you would like, including UA and NW. They are pretty cheap, compared with UA or NW's tickets to North America.

I think ex-HKG it could be six months. But if you return frequently to HKG, just switch to this ticket, and you can fly CX for flights to NRT or KIX. Return flighs are date-changeable but not reroutable, though.

The only problem with CX may be the subclass they use. I think it is N or M, I forgot which.

Yeah!

they are cheaper than NW's actually. Last CHristmas I fly DTW-HKG with AA for around US$8xx with NW is $11xx at the same time.
This April I fly back to HKG and return in late Aug for a ticket only for $7xx.

My agent put me to JAL flight once, it still can earn AA miles (non-status miles).

1800miles to trade a use of the Wing.... maybe worth it

Provided that it is booked under M on CX, you don't need to 'trade' 1,800 miles or so, if you just move your AAdvantage address to Canada.

UA and NW tickets are a little pricier than AA but they have an added advantage of being upgradable with miles.

Esp. UA's ex-BKK tickets are a bargain. They can be upgraded with a rather lowly 13,000 miles one way all the way from BKK-NRT-N. America.

NW requires 25,000 miles one way. So does AA but from NRT onwards only, as AA operates no intra-Asia flights on their own.

Dupe.

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 10-23-2000).]

greggwiggins,

Here is a link to the services that the spa provides and how to make a reservation: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/000309.html

for the AA fare ex-hkg, u can either book your Japan-hkg segment with JL or CX. for CX hte subclass is V, which earns you nothing. but still worthwhile if you visit the Wing....tiglion.com.hk shows all the fare rule, but their price is usually a bit higher than u can get elsewhere..